Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan (JSA) is a comprehensive water conservation movement designed to make drought-prone regions of Maharashtra water-secure while strengthening agriculture and rural livelihoods. One of its key components—Magel Tyala Shettale Yojana (Farm Ponds on Demand)—introduced during JSA 1.0 and continued in JSA 2.0, has played a significant role in promoting rainwater harvesting and expanding irrigation access for farmers.Since a large portion of agriculture in Maharashtra depends on rainfall, crops frequently suffer from moisture stress during heatwaves or prolonged dry spells. Farm ponds provide critical protective irrigation at key growth stages, helping safeguard yields during drought-like conditions. Even in normal rainfall years, these ponds contribute to better crop productivity and stability.
When Devendra Fadnavis assumed office as Chief Minister in October 2014, the state was grappling with severe drought across many regions. He placed drought mitigation at the top of his agenda. Rather than focusing on short-term relief measures such as farm loan waivers, he emphasized the need for durable, science-based solutions. In his view, temporary financial relief could ease immediate distress but would not resolve the structural challenges faced by farmers. A long-term, systematic approach to water management was essential to transform agriculture sustainably.Accordingly, JSA 1.0 was launched in January 2015 with a strong focus on rainwater conservation and micro-irrigation. The program aimed to create interconnected water channels, develop decentralized storage systems, and rejuvenate existing streams and ponds through desilting.Complementing these efforts, the government introduced the Magel Tyala Shettale Yojana in December 2016 to enable farmers to build individual rainwater storage facilities on their own land. In the first phase, 50,000 farms were identified for financial assistance to construct ponds. Although a similar initiative had been attempted earlier, Fadnavis readily embraced and strengthened the concept, recognizing farm ponds as an effective solution for rain-dependent farming areas. Despite financial constraints, funds were mobilized to ensure the scheme’s timely and efficient rollout.
Advantages of firm ponds
Farm ponds offer significant opportunities to enhance the security of water for farming by capturing, storing, and distributing water for irrigation. These ponds can be replenished by rain and are strategically placed at lower elevations to gather runoff from higher areas after rainfall, a typical practice on farms. Additionally, ponds can be filled with water from irrigation runoff, which can then be reused. Sometimes farm ponds are connected to canals or streams through offshoot nalas to receive water from those sources as well, compensating for water level depletion during the dry season. Ponds have the ability to replenish groundwater, which helps retain more water within the system for an extended period. Ponds are also good for fish farming, fire protection, stock watering, or simply landscape beautification.
A detailed account of the Magel Tyala Shettale scheme
The government led by Devendra Fadnavis commissioned an independent agency to study the impact of nearly 90,000 farm ponds constructed in Maharashtra between 2009 and 2012 during the Congress–NCP administration under the National Agricultural Development Scheme and the Employment Guarantee Scheme.The evaluation concluded that these ponds had significantly supported farmers, particularly during the kharif season, by providing critical water availability. Encouraged by these findings, the Fadnavis administration chose to continue and strengthen the concept under a new initiative titled Magel Tyala Shettale Yojana. This move was widely viewed as an example of leadership that prioritized farmers’ welfare over political considerations.
Under the Magel Tyala Shettale scheme, cultivators were encouraged to construct farm ponds on their own land with financial backing from the state. The government offered support of up to Rs. 50,000 or 70–75% of the total construction cost, whichever amount was lower. Additionally, a separate subsidy was provided to cover the expense of laying plastic lining sheets at the base of the pond to minimize water seepage and enhance storage efficiency.
51,500 farm ponds in the first phase
During 2016–17, the government headed by Devendra Fadnavis initially aimed to construct 51,500 farm ponds under the first phase of the Magel Tyala Shettale initiative. The response, however, was overwhelming, with as many as 2,37,234 applications submitted by farmers. Given the high demand, identifying eligible beneficiaries became a major task. Consequently, the government revised its approach and expanded the target, deciding that villages which had recorded less than 50% of average rainfall over the previous five years would receive priority consideration.
Based on this criterion, selections were made across different revenue divisions of Maharashtra: 51,500 villages from Nashik Division, 5,287 from Pune Division, 16,200 from Aurangabad Division, 13,215 from Amravati Division, and 8,478 from Nagpur Division were identified for inclusion.
The scheme laid down specific eligibility conditions:
Applicants were required to own a minimum of 0.6 hectares of agricultural land, with no upper ceiling on landholding.
The pond’s dimensions and site had to comply with government guidelines and receive approval from the Agriculture Department.
Preference was extended to farmers below the poverty line (BPL) and to families of farmers who had died by suicide.
For implementation, a budgetary allocation of Rs. 1,000 crore was made in the 2023 state budget. Financial assistance for the approved farm ponds was credited directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts to ensure transparency and timely support.
Bodi instead of farms for East Vidarbha
In East Vidarbha, paddy cultivation depends heavily on assured irrigation support. To address this need, the state government issued a Government Resolution on 11 September 2016 permitting the construction of new water storage bodies in place of farm ponds in districts such as Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli, as well as in Ramtek, Kamthi, Mouda, Parseoni, Kuhi, Umred and Bhiwapur talukas of Nagpur district. The concerned department subsequently framed detailed guidelines and determined subsidy amounts based on the size of each water body. At the outset, eligibility for the scheme was restricted to families of farmers who had died by suicide and to those living below the poverty line.
Expansion of the Scheme Across the State, Including Konkan
Following the encouraging results of the Magel Tyala Shettale Yojana, legislators from the Konkan region pressed for its rollout in their constituencies. Responding to these demands and the scheme’s demonstrated success, the government revised certain norms to enable its extension to additional regions. The overall target under the scheme was increased to 1,11,111 farm ponds, and orders were issued to implement it statewide. Eventually, the initiative was introduced in nearly all districts of Maharashtra, with the exception of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts.Throughout his tenure, Devendra Fadnavis consistently emphasized that development must be sustainable and inclusive, reaching the most vulnerable sections of society rather than offering temporary relief. Whether in office or in opposition, he has repeatedly advocated for long-term, structural solutions to recurring droughts and floods in the state. To tackle water scarcity in a durable manner, his administration implemented major initiatives such as the Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan and the Magel Tyala Shettale Yojana. Simultaneously, efforts were made to raise awareness among farmers and encourage a shift in agricultural practices to strengthen rural economies at the grassroots level.
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